Well, I’ve gone and done it. I started my own law practice.
Time to send business announcements to acquaintences, friends, and family. The announcements are printed on nice paper in a nice font.
I have standard greeting-card-sized envelopes. Should I handwrite the addresses on the envelopes or print the envelopes?
Handwritten envelopes seem more personal, but perhaps unprofessional? Printed envelopes seem more professional, but impersonal.
I also want to include a personal handritten note to each recipient on a separate little sheet of paper (1) because it’s a nice thing to do; and (2) it makes the announcement more personal… not so cold and distant.
What’s the ettiquette on handwritten envelopes … or does it even matter?
Now, on to offering my opinion. I think it’s perfectly acceptible to use a printer to address the envelopes. Perhaps you could you a nice font a la Harrington, Poor Richard or even Lucida Calligraphy or TypoUpright.
When I see a hand-written address on a mass mailing like this, all I think is that this guy’s so incompetent with computers that he can’t even produce a set of mailing labels.
So I sure wouldn’t want to hire him for any job that requires using computers (like modern law practice).
I would definitely use a printer for addressing the announcements to anyone with whom you hope to do business. For those that are going out for fun (to family), you could address by hand as long as they won’t be passing it on to anyone with whom you want to do business.
IMHO, law is something that should inspire trust and conservativism and you want to err on the side of formality.
I wrote some out and I printed some. I decided that printing was the way to go. It just looks more professional.
My question arose because I do my share of political volunteer work, including addressing mailers by hand. I guess it’s different in the political world when the candidate wants to convey a more “personal” touch with the voters by using handwritten envelopes instead of printed envelopes.
Depending on the size of your mailing, I’d recommend printing directly to the envelopes instead of using adhesive labels. No big deal if it’s not feasible, though.